MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH M'TESSA. 221 
several women were on his left, also seated on the 
ground under the shade of the lofty cane-and-grass 
building. His quick eye detected that part of my 
hand had been cut of. "How did this happen?" 
He no doubt fancied that some offence had been com- 
mitted by me, as it was the custom of his court to 
maim people by cutting off fingers, feet, or ears for 
even slight offences. He spoke in whispers to his pages, 
when Mariboo, the officer who had charge of me from 
Karague, informed him that I had received the wound 
in my hand in action ; he also told him of the diffi- 
culties he had in bringing me to his majesty. The 
people listened with the most perfect decorum, only 
once interrupted by a sudden arrest. Maulah, the 
chief " detective," observing some breach of etiquette 
— probably a man speaking above his breath — sud- 
denly seized the offender, and dragged him away. 
The look of anguish of the miserable creature thus 
apprehended was most painful. No one ventured to 
show sympathy ; and Maulah soon returned alone, 
looking pleased and satisfied. 
Conversation is never interrupted by these scenes ; 
music from drums and other instruments drown any 
noise made by a poor prisoner, or it is continued to 
please the ears of those attending the levee. The 
mode of testifying allegiance was curious ; the mob 
suddenly stood up en masse, with their long sticks 
balanced in the air, and charged towards the threshold 
several times, with shouts of praise for their king, 
who made no acknowledgment. The court broke up, 
after an hour, by the king walking away on tiptoe, 
with the most ludicrous swagger, through a screen 
leading into another enclosure. The doors were 
